Gita Sankano urges professionals to mentor students and first-gen graduates

Washington, D.C. attorney Gita Sankano is urging experienced professionals to mentor students and young workers, especially first-generation college attendees. She says guidance can build confidence, open doors and improve long-term outcomes for communities.

Why it matters: - Mentorship can shape whether students and young professionals stay on track through college and early careers. - Sankano is targeting first-generation college students, a group that often faces extra barriers without family experience to lean on. - The message links professional experience to community impact, not just career advancement.

What happened: - Washington, D.C.-based attorney Gita Sankano called on professionals to mentor at least one student, young professional or first-generation college attendee over the next year. - Sankano said professionals in law, business, education, construction, healthcare and other fields can help by answering questions, offering encouragement or making introductions. - Sankano framed the effort as a simple way to help people build confidence and find opportunities. - Sankano also shared her LinkedIn profile: Gita F. Sankano.

The details: - Sankano said being the first in her family to attend college made the path harder, but mentors helped her navigate unfamiliar challenges. - Sankano grew up in Harlem and the Bronx. - Sankano earned degrees from CUNY John Jay College and the University of Maryland School of Law. - Sankano graduated from law school cum laude and in the top 20% of her class. - Sankano built a career in sophisticated commercial real estate and housing finance transactions involving major public and private institutions. - Sankano said her definition of success is giving back to her community and sharing knowledge with young people. - Sankano said her mother has been her biggest influence and described her as hardworking and persistent. - The National Mentoring Partnership says one in three young people grows up without a meaningful mentor outside the family. - Research cited in the release says young adults with mentors are more likely to enroll in college, hold leadership roles, volunteer regularly and report strong self-confidence. - The National Center for Education Statistics says first-generation college students still complete degrees at lower rates than students whose parents earned bachelor's degrees.

Between the lines: - The pitch is as much about access as advice. A short conversation or introduction can matter when students lack a built-in professional network. - Sankano is positioning mentorship as a low-cost, low-effort way for professionals to widen opportunity without waiting for a formal program. - Her own career story reinforces the point that guidance can help first-generation students translate talent into momentum.

What's next: - Sankano wants professionals to commit to at least one mentoring relationship over the next year. - She says the support can be one conversation, ongoing guidance or a continued effort to share experiences. - The goal is to help more young people build confidence, expand opportunity and keep moving toward their goals.

The bottom line: - Sankano's message is simple: mentorship does not require a big platform, but it can have lasting effects.